Red Barnet and Børns Vilkår raise concerns over TikTok’s reporting process in Denmark

Red Barnet and Børns Vilkår are recognized as “trusted flaggers,” giving them a prioritized role in reporting harmful content on major social media platforms. This includes issues like self-harm or grooming. However, recently both organizations have expressed concerns that TikTok, which had 1.3 million users in Denmark last year, is no longer responsive to their reports.

They have noted a significant change in TikTok’s reporting procedures for trusted flaggers, complicating the process of notifying the platform about harmful content. Kathrine Elmose Jørgensen, a digital media expert at Børns Vilkår, criticized the new system, stating it has become increasingly difficult to report damaging videos effectively. For instance, the organization submitted around 700 reports of severe self-harm content in October, yet TikTok only removed a fraction of those videos.

The updated reporting system now requires organizations to use a form that necessitates providing a direct link to the problematic content, which poses challenges when children may not have a link on hand during discussions about their experiences. This shift has resulted in ongoing technical issues where reported content remains active despite attempts to flag it.

With 41% of young people in Denmark aged 15 to 29 using TikTok weekly, the failure to promptly address harmful content can have serious repercussions. Both organizations have raised alarms about the implications for children who may already be vulnerable or facing bullying.

In response to concerns regarding the new reporting procedures, TikTok acknowledged the feedback but did not provide details on the rationale behind the changes. Børns Vilkår is contemplating alternatives to their current relationship with TikTok if these issues continue without resolution.